The All Blacks’ incredible run at Eden Park continues, but the men in black had to work for it as they overcame a determined Wallabies 33-24 to win back the Bledisloe Cup.
The match saw a see-sawing first half, with the All Blacks hitting the ground running with three tries in the opening 25 minutes, before the Wallabies returned fire in the final 15 minutes with two tries to be in the contest 20-17 at halftime.
Watch the Wallabies tackle the All Blacks live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The visitors looked dangerous in the second half before several back-to-back penalties saw Damian McKenzie’s boot give the hosts some breathing space - before a Wallaby set piece try set up a grand stand finish… until a Cam Roigard try put the result beyond doubt.
So, what did we learn?
The All Blacks led for the entire match, but it was far from a one-sided clash.
After putting 20 points on in the first 25 minutes, the Wallabies' fightback spirit kicked in, with tries to Billy Pollard and Harry Potter bringing the visitors back within three points.
While Damian McKenzie gave the men in black some much-needed breathing space, a brilliant set piece try to Carlo Tizzano in the 69th minute set up a grandstand finish, with the visitors getting within two points.
Cam Roigard would score in the 75th minute shortly after Harry Potter's yellow card to put the match beyond doubt, but compared to their 33-13 loss in Wellington last year, it was a result that showed how far the men in gold have grown.
It became an area of concern over the Pumas series, and once again, the aerial contest remains a serious concern for Joe Schmidt’s men.
While Corey Toole and Harry Potter were troubled early by Beauden Barrett’s high ball, with Caleb Clarke and Leroy Carter benefited with tries in the opening 15 minutes.
However, as the momentum shifted and the Wallabies built into the game, it was Toole and Potter who were at the forefront.
The Brumby winger won several key aerial contests to keep the pressure on the hosts, while Potter repaid the momentum with a try on halftime to get the visitors back into the contest.
After years of waiting in multiple extended squads, Ryan Lonergan is finally a Wallaby.
After Tate McDermott was forced from the field in the 18th minute with an ugly hamstring injury, the Brumby became Wallaby #992, and it was a debut in the deep end.
After overcoming a couple of nerves and two unforced knock-ons, Lonergan delivered a composed 60-minute performance, dealing with the pressure of Eden Park well and helping adding composure to the Wallabies fightback.
At the other end of the caps metric, James Slipper put together a solid first-half performance at set piece as he entered into rugby folklore to become the first Wallaby to earn 150 caps.
Holding well in the scrum, his efforts set the groundwork for a Wallaby fight back that came so close to making history.
The Wallabies hoped to hit the ground running and overcome several slow starts, but in Auckland, it was a tough opening 25 minutes.
The All Blacks scored 20 points in the opening half hour, however unlike previous matches, the men in gold would strike back in the final 15 minutes with two brilliant tries.
However, after a promising start to the second half, three penalties conceded and a restart straight out on the full from James O’Connor sucked the momentum out of the men in gold, with Damian McKenzie keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
The Wallabies would bring it back to within two points in the final ten minutes, but a Harry Potter yellow card and a second try to Cam Roigard put the match beyond doubt.
The All Blacks may have locked away the Bledisloe Cup for another year - but they sit on the edge of history as they head to Perth.
The victory at Eden Park marks their 10th straight victory over the Wallabies, equalling their all-time winning streak against the men in gold set between 2008 and 2010.
Should they prevail in Perth next week, the men in black will set an all new winning streak record against the Wallabies, and it will be one Joe Schmidt’s men will be desperate to avoid.
Fortunately, if the performance suggests anything, it’s that the Wallabies have made significant strides forward.
In 2010, they ended that win streak with a famous victory in Hong Kong, with a James O’Connor proving the difference.
With the men in gold having pulled one of their most victories against the All Blacks at the same venue in 2019, the All Blacks will have to face a sold-out Wallaby crowd to make history.
